Performance-based funding policies for postsecondary institutions have been enacted throughout the United States as an answer to reductions in public funding and increased accountability mandates. Institutional effectiveness, as demonstrated through metrics such as graduation and retention rates, dictates the level of funding received. Educational…

The present study examines the differences between public baccalaureate institutional expenditures and Pell Grant recipient graduation rates at high and low Pell Grant recipient graduating institutions. IPEDS data were analyzed, including instructional, academic support, student services, institutional support, and Pell Grant recipient 6-year…

Using publicly available data, the researchers examined variables that may predict English learner graduation rates (ELGR) at the school and school-system levels to determine whether the school average per pupil expenditure (PPE), the school mobility rate (MOB), the percentage of teachers out of field (TOF), and the percentage of inexperienced…

This report is a comprehensive analysis of college spending trends and the impact spending has on tuition and student success. American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) analyzed data from more than 1,500 four-year public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities. The data reveal that institutional spending has continued to surge…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the relationship between district-level per-pupil expenditures and district-level student achievement in rural South Carolina school districts. School districts in rural South Carolina are synonymous with higher concentration of minority students and students living in poverty (Showalter, 2019). The…

We leverage an obscure set of rules in Texas's school funding formula granting some districts additional revenue as a function of size and sparsity. We use variation from kinks and discontinuities in this formula to ask how districts spend additional discretionary funds, and whether these improve student outcomes. A $1,000 annual increase in…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between funding and the attainment of a high school diploma for students with a disability in the state of Michigan. The high school graduation rate continues to remain stagnate for students with disabilities in the state of Michigan. The research examined the role of school finance and…

We provide new evidence about the effect of court-ordered finance reforms that took place between 1989 and 2010 on per-pupil revenues and graduation rates. We account for heterogeneity in the treated and counterfactual groups to estimate the effect of overturning a state's finance system. Seven years after reform, the highest poverty quartile in a…

The aim of this research was to examine the influence of fiscal determinants on high school graduation rates for African-American students in Long Island public schools during the 2019- 2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years, within the context of various federal initiatives and educational equity policies. Utilizing ANOVA and linear…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a state-wide teen pregnancy dropout prevention program using cost-benefit analysis. Data analyzed from five high schools covering a decade compared three student populations: teens from the general population, teens who were enrolled in the fully online program, and teens who selected out of the full…

This dissertation explored the cost and value of 1:1 computing programs in high schools in Texas. The study examines whether the total cost of ownership of these programs can be justified by the student testing gains and graduation rates. It investigates whether student learning outcomes show a definable correlation between positive gains and the…

In 2015, the City University of New York (CUNY) launched a new program--Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE)--aimed at improving college graduation rates. A randomized-control evaluation of the program found a nearly 12 percentage point increase in graduation five years after college entry. Using this impact estimate and national data on…

Objective: This study examines the characteristics, course enrollment patterns, and academic outcomes of students who started their college careers in noncredit courses. Method: Drawing upon a rich dataset that includes transcript and demographic information on both for-credit and noncredit students in multiple institutions, this study explores…

Education is critical to a democratic nation and in creating a strong economy (Verstegen, 2008). The importance of education is clear across society as an important tool in creating equal opportunities for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. As school accountability increases, it is critical to determine what…

We present a classroom-ready activity for high school or college students involving an investigation of a rich, multivariate data set concerning educational and demographic characteristics of K-12 schools at the state level in the United States. The data set includes educational characteristics such as per-pupil revenue and graduation rate along…